“Look at Stoke, reportedly with £31million worth of talent in their team the other night. How is that fair?

“If it’s going to be Under 23s and they want players to get experience then they should play Under 23s.

“They’ll turn round and say we’re allowed to play five overage players, of course you are but that’s not really what the competition is about. It’s about putting the young lads in.

“The reason they were put in there was to allow them to play against other football clubs’ first teams.”

The Wembley carrot is in danger of being whipped from under the noses of League One and Two clubs according to Wilson, who doesn’t believe younger players will be given a chance by big clubs in the latter stages.

“It’s always a chance for the lower clubs, but when we’ve put Under 23 teams in there, can you see big teams seeing Wembley round the corner and not putting first team players in there? I’m not suggesting any team but a Championship or Premiership club, two games from a final, not putting their best team out?

“That’s to the detriment of the competition, it certainly doesn’t help lower league teams getting to the final.

“We’re playing by the rules and I don’t think others are. I don’t think that’s fair.

“Clubs are taking advantage of certain things.

“We’re not bothered about who we’re playing against, we’re bothered about the rules.”

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